The Problems with Grace –
Part 1
Jonah’s Problems With Grace
Jonah
Chapter 1
The Problems with Grace –
Part 1
Jonah’s Problems With Grace
Jonah
Chapter 1
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Nov 1, 2015 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (2Timothy 1:9)
A.
All year
long, we have learned about GRACE – God’s kindness directed towards an
unworthy, uninterested world.
B.
We have
explored how good God was towards:
1.
An angry
man like Moses
2.
An
unsaved Gentile named Cornelius
3.
The
guilty woman caught in adultery
4.
A
foreigner named Ruth
5.
A
repeating harlot named Gomer
6.
The evil
brothers of Joseph who sold him into slavery
7.
The
carnal Lot
8.
And then
last month, towards great apostle Paul.
C.
God’s
grace is simply amazing
1.
It’s
kind, when we deserve harshness
2.
It’s
patient, when we deserve none
3.
It’s
life changing, when WE should be the ones to change
4.
It
sacrifices self, for someone else, especially when they are so
undeserving
5.
Who
wouldn’t WANT to experience God’s grace, and enjoy it every day!!!
D.
We now
focus on how some people STRUGGLE with God’s grace – God’s goodness –
God’s kindnesses
E.
Notice
2Timothy 1:9, says that God “saved
us, and called us … not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace”
1.
Why did
Jesus save any of us?
2.
Why does
He use any of us?
3.
Answer:
All according to HIS OWN purpose and grace!
4.
And
there is the problem
a.
Oh we
want God’s blessings - but on our terms.
b.
We want
God’s attention - because of our good works.
c.
We want
God to be good to US - but not to others who might be even less worthy
of it!
5.
But
God’s grace doesn’t work that way!
6.
As we
are going to see in the life and struggle of the prophet Jonah with
God’s grace
II.
Background on Jonah (Matthew 12:38-41; Jonah 1:1)
A.
A little
humour
1.
A
Preacher was doing his "Children's Church" sermon where all the
youngsters come down front and hear a story.
The pastor was discussing the story of Jonah.
He quoted a few scriptures from Jonah 1 and 2.
2.
"Now
the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in
the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed
unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by
reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the
belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice... And the LORD spake
unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." (Jonah
1:17 -- 2:2, 10)
3.
When the
Pastor finished the scripture quotation, he started trying to get input
from the youngsters to help him complete his mini-sermon.
He asked thoughtfully, "What does the fish vomiting Jonah out on
dry land teach us today?”
4.
One of
the youngsters spoke with great enthusiasm for the entire congregation
to hear, "It proves, even a fish can't stomach a bad preacher!"
B.
There
was a prophet named Jonah
(Jonah 1:1)
1.
He lived
and preached a long time ago - about 862 years before the birth of
Jesus. That’s nearly 3,000 years ago!
2.
He
preached through all of the area around Galilee in North Israel (MAP)
3.
Jonah
was a famous name in Israel – He was famous for many things
a.
For
being very stubborn, and refusing to do what God had commanded
b.
For
having a bad attitude about lost people
c.
For
surviving in a whale’s belly for three days and three nights
4.
Yet, he
was most famous for preaching the greatest revival meeting of all time –
in the capital city of Nineveh, where there were 600,000 pagan, Gentile
sinners converted, and saved from God’s coming judgment!
5.
862
years later, when people asked Jesus for a miraculous sign to prove that
He was the Messiah (Jesus had already done many miracles, and proved it
countless times already), Jesus instantly reminded them of Jonah (Mt
12:38-41).
6.
This is
no fish story – it is an example of God’s grace in so many different
ways!
C.
There
was a massive empire, called Assyria (MAP)
1.
It’s
capital city was Nineveh – 600 miles away from Jerusalem
2.
The
Ninevites were PAGAN People!
a.
Built
massive, pagan temples, Ziggurats – huge pyramids for human and animal
sacrifices (GRAPHIC)
b.
Multitude of gods and goddesses – From Fish-gods, to evil gods like
Marduk (PIC)
c.
There
was no good afterlife in their religion - only eternal darkness at
death. Everything that was good had to be gotten in this life!
3.
The
Ninevites were Wicked People
a.
They
lived as wickedly as Sodom and Gomorrah in their cities and homes
b.
They
were brutal – their greatest weapon of war was terror! When the
Ninevites captured a city they slaughtered all the leading citizens.
When I say slaughtered, They stretched men out flat on the ground and
tied their hands and feet to stakes and literally, with a knife, skinned
them alive. They made pyramids out of human skulls to mark the route the
conquerors had taken.
c.
They
hated God, and they hated God’s people, the Jews! Constantly attacking
and destroying entire cities and villages throughout Israel
4.
The
Ninevites were Enemies of Israel
a.
They
were an expanding empire – taking over countries all around little
Israel (MAP)
b.
They had
repeatedly marched through the area around Israel and Judah and
slaughtered tens of thousands of Jews on their way to Egypt
c.
They
didn’t care whether they killed men, women, children or infants
d.
As long
as every nation feared them, the Ninevites were happy!
e.
Jonah
had watched his own nation being chastened and judged by God at the
hands of the Ninevites, and he hated the Ninevites for doing it!
5.
The
Ninevites were a Condemned People
a.
You will
only live that way for so long before your sin catches up with you!
b.
Every
nation has a period of time that where they seem to grow and expand, but
at some point will have to give account to God, and be judged for how
they lived
c.
Assyria
(Nineveh was the capital) had become the greatest empire of its day
d.
But they
were rapidly decaying, and would soon be judged by God
e.
It was
at this time, God wanted to warn them through Jonah of the impending
judgment
III.
Message
A.
Jonah’s
Calling (Jonah 1:2)
1.
He was
Called to Go to Nineveh
a.
That’s
didn’t make sense – he already had a calling – to get Israel to repent
and get right with God
b.
And he
was doing pretty good at it
1)
He was
well known
2)
He was
comfortable doing what he was doing
3)
He was
not in any danger preaching
4)
He
preached in lovely small country towns and villages around the Sea of
Galilee
5)
You
couldn’t ask for a better calling!
2.
And now,
here he was being directed to go 600 miles away to leave his village
ministry, and go to a massive capital city, full of blood-thirsty pagans
who were explicitly the ENEMIES of God and Israel!
a.
Travelling 600 miles would take over a month one-way!
b.
All to
go and warn some unworthy people of the coming wrath of God
c.
Warn
them that their wickedness will soon be judged!
d.
To give
them a chance, an opportunity to repent and be spared God’s justice!
B.
Jonah’s
Choice (Jonah 1:3)
1.
He made
a choice to go the completely opposite way – to Tarshish in southern
Spain (MAP)
a.
He is
pretty instant in his decision to NOT do God’s will
b.
That
‘but’ in verse 3 popped out far too quick!
c.
Nineveh
was about 600 miles northeast
d.
Tarshish
was about 2,500 miles due west
e.
Tarshish
was the furthest port people sailed to before turning back
2.
Step by
step, he determined to get away from Nineveh
a.
Went
down to the main shipping port of Joppa
b.
Found a
strong, sturdy ship sailing (well,what do you know…) for Tarshish
1)
This was
no dingy – it was a massive sailing vessel that was well used to
travelling the entire length and breadth of the Mediterranean Sea
c.
Paid for
the travel ticket
1)
Probably
a one-way ticket
2)
Probably
a very expensive ticket
d.
Settled
into his little cubby hole in the ship, and prepared for the long
journey
3.
What was
Jonah doing?
a.
Quitting! Plain and simple!
b.
Jonah
Threw Everything Away – Rejected God’s Will
c.
Why?
1)
Because
something didn’t make sense to him
2)
That is
why most people won’t trust God and the Bible – it doesn’t make perfect
sense all the time!
3)
It
actually goes AGAINST us
4.
Where
did he think he was going?
a.
Not just
getting as far away from Nineveh as possible
b.
But
getting as far away from God’s pressure as possible -
c.
As far
away from the will of God as possible
d.
Is that
even possible?
e.
Was
Jonah THAT stupid? To think that God was already in Tarshish?
f.
No. But
when you are upset at God, you don't think right (Ps 139:7-10) – you
just want to run!
C.
Jonah’s
Storm (Jonah 1:4-6)
1.
God
began to bring pressure on Jonah
a.
For
every ‘but’ of man, there is a bigger ‘but’ of God “BUT
God…”
b.
Had
started with just a still small voice
c.
Now, God
used a Storm
d.
Next,
God will use Embarrassment
e.
Then
finally God will use a Whale!
2.
No
ordinary storm – GOD sent this storm!
a.
As Jonah
travelled the Mediterranean Sea, a storm blew in, and started beating
against that strong, sturdy sailing vessel – smashing against it with
ever higher waves and stronger winds
b.
It was a
MAJOR storm – a kind of hurricane in the Mediterranean – Euroclydon
c.
It was
smashing against the ship, and starting to crack it and break it into
pieces!
d.
It began
to sink!
3.
All the
sailors were panicking
a.
Franticly trying to brace the ship, and reinforce the sides, and hold
the ship together or else they were all going to DIE!
b.
And
every one of those pagan, ungodly men
became very religious in
that storm
1)
Started
crying out to the gods that they had been taught about – grew up with
2)
Started
repenting, and promising their gods to be better men, and to give more
of their time to doing good things instead of evil
c.
But the
storm only grew worse
d.
And so
the sailors started throwing the boxes and crates overboard to lighten
the ship
4.
And
where was Jonah?
a.
Jonah
just slept on
b.
Didn't
bother him – he didn’t care
c.
He would
rather put up with anything else as long as he did not have to go to
Nineveh!
D.
Jonah’s
Problem (Jonah 1:7-11)
1.
Jonah
KNEW exactly why all this was happening
a.
Jonah
had been silent up to this point
b.
Just
stayed out of the way
c.
He
wasn’t about to “own up” to all the danger that he had put everyone in
d.
Until
the men saw all the facts point to Jonah
e.
And they
demanded of him, what had he DONE to bring this disaster on them!
2.
Jonah
finally admits to everyone what GOD was doing
a.
I am a
Hebrew
b.
I fear
Jehovah – I am in trouble with Him.
c.
You see,
My God is the God of HEAVEN (the God of the storms)
d.
And the
Creator of everything that there is – the sea and the dry land
e.
And I am
running away, fleeing from God’s presence (as if that was possible)
f.
But I
fear He has caught up with me!
3.
And THAT
terrified those sailors
4.
But
there was ONE question Jonah did NOT answer
a.
“WHY?
Why are you running from your God?”
b.
Funny
isn’t it, that other people can see our own stubbornness and stupidity,
and we can’t
E.
Jonah is
a Mess (Jonah 1:12-15)
1.
Jonah
USED to be soft towards the will of God – when it suited him (2Kings 14)
a.
He
enjoyed being used of God
b.
He
enjoyed watching God’s word humble men and women, and get them to turn
back to God just by his preaching and praying in those small villages
and towns around Galilee
c.
But not
anymore!
2.
Jonah
had now decided to fiercely fight God’s will – resisted God’s clear
words to him!
a.
He let
his own feelings, pride, frustrations, anger, bitterness, and bad
attitudes make him hard, and cold towards God’s word, and towards
preaching, and towards souls!
b.
He ended
up resisting all the pressures from God to do His will
1)
The
Spirit of God speaking IN him
2)
The
storm from GOD that had come AGAINST him
3)
The
sinking ship around him
4)
Nothing
moved Jonah – nothing changed Jonah’s attitude now
c.
Jonah
would rather have DIED than do what God told him to do!
3.
Jonah
was a mess!
F.
Yet even
in this first chapter, in the belly of a whale, Jonah has experienced
God’s Amazing Grace
1.
Gave
Jonah a great calling! God graciously gave JONAH (not another prophet)
the job of preaching a city-wide revival – that’s cool! A Missionary’s
call. God could have called anyone, but in His grace, he picked
unwilling, unworthy Jonah! THAT’S grace!
2.
Allowed
Jonah to run for a while away from God – to learn he cannot live without
God
3.
Protected Jonah in the storm
4.
Gave
Jonah some souls saved! Jonah ‘Accidently’ converts an entire boatload
of sinful, pagan sailors! (1:14-16)
a.
Without
even trying
b.
And with
a bad attitude – even a death wish!
IV.
Jonah’s
Problems with Grace
A.
Jonah
has about a dozen problems with God’s Grace – with God’s goodness
towards people!
1.
Not with
God’s goodness and kindnesses toward HIMSELF
2.
Or
towards God’s own people. The Israelites
3.
No.
4.
His
problem was when God showed GRACE towards those MORE unworthy!!!
B.
You
wouldn’t believe ANYONE would have a problem with God being good and
kind towards people
C.
But in
the Bible you have several
1.
Jonah is
one – doesn’t want any grace shown towards the Ninevites!
2.
The
prodigal’s older brother (Luke 15:11-30)
3.
The
Pharisees (Luke 5:30; 15:2)
4.
The
goodman of a household that gave people better wages than they earned
(Mt 20:8-12)
5.
Grace is
NEVER fair! THANK GOD!
D.
Here are
just a few problems Jonah had with Grace – maybe YOU have some of these:
1.
Jonah
was not ignorant of the grace and goodness of God – he intensely
appreciated it when it was poured out on himself and his people. He just
did not like it wasted on unworthy people!
2.
God’s
Grace sees the need of the Ninevites to repent before it is too late!
a.
Jonah
did not think the Ninevites deserved the chance to repent and be spared
judgment
b.
Remember, he hated them for all they had done to his people, and even
his family
3.
Grace
was opening opportunities for pagan
Gentiles to get saved –
GENTILE DOGS!
a.
While
Jonah was only interested in JEWS having an exclusive relationship with
God
b.
Jonah
only saw the Jews as God’s people, and then everyone else as Dogs
c.
Grace
sees everyone the same – as lost! Whether Jew or Gentile!
d.
As the
apostle Paul wrote in Rom 3:22,23 “Even
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and
upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
4.
Grace
seeks the lost, warns the uninterested, and loves the enemies of God
(Luke 19:10; John 1:10-12)
a.
Jonah
just could NOT understand any of that
b.
To
Jonah, that is extreme!
c.
It was
NOT the kind of grace that Jonah wanted to preach and live by
d.
These
Ninevites were the enemies of God (Romans 5:6,8,10; Eph 2:12,13)
5.
Grace
uses the people that don’t want to be used
a.
You
think that is cruel
b.
But God
thinks it is awesome to use EVERYBODY!
c.
Why
would you think that God only uses people that find it easy to do what
He asks?
d.
There
are very few of those – thank God for those
e.
The rest
of us have to be convinced that God knows what He is doing
f.
Jonah
was willing to do God’s will as long as:
1)
It was
easy – preaching to his own people, in his own language was acceptable
to him
2)
As long
as it made sense – obviously Jonah would preach and warn his own people
3)
As long
as it was something he already wanted to do – which is what MOST OF US
think too!
6.
Grace
sacrifices good people’s feelings and even lives, to save bad people
a.
Jonah –
God didn’t care about JONAH’S feelings about things
b.
Jesus –
he saved others, Himself He cannot save!
c.
Have you
noticed that when you live for the Lord, your life sometimes is spread
more thinly and your hardships more hurtful than the people you are
trying to win to Christ?
d.
God
burdens the hurting with a call to go and love and offer second chances
to those who have hurt you!
7.
Grace
won’t let us quit
a.
Jonah
did not want to be forced to do what God said do
b.
Thought
he could just quit, and everything would be fine
c.
But
grace doesn’t let us quit, folks!
d.
You
can’t just quit folks!
1)
Can’t
just quit being a parent, a wife, or a husband
2)
You
can’t just quit being a Christian because it has gotten hard, or
“complex”
8.
Grace
doesn’t let us stay the way we are – is always working on us and in us
a.
Jonah
didn’t think HE needed to change
b.
Did not
want to get right HIMSELF
c.
You see,
Jonah needed to repent of his hard heart
d.
He only
wanted everyone else to repent, but not himself
V.
Invitation
A.
God’s
focus was bigger than Jonah’s
1.
Jonah
just cared about the small villages and towns around Galilee
2.
God
cared about an evil Empire
B.
Do YOU
have any of the same problems with God’s Grace?
1.
Do you
hate grace when it seems like it is wasted on unworthy people, like your
neighbours who seem to not have a problem in the world, while you
struggle just to breathe under the pressures you are facing?
2.
Do you
reject the grace of God that calls us to go to the ungodly and encourage
them to repent before it is too late?
a.
Remember, Jonah did not think the Ninevites deserved the chance to
repent and be spared judgment
b.
Who do
YOU think is undeserving of God’s forgiveness and salvation from the
wrath to come?
3.
Do you
despise it when God allows unworthy people to be in charge of our lives?
4.
Do you
only worry and pray for your family, and your own kind of people? When
there are people, countless millions around the world who hate you and
hate God, but need to be warned, before it is too late!
5.
Do you
run from God because he doesn’t make perfect sense?
a.
Grace
seeks the lost, warns the uninterested, and loves the enemies of God
b.
Remember
that God, because of His kindness, went after YOU even though YOU were
not seeking Him!
6.
Will you
finally accept that Grace uses the people that don’t want to be used?
a.
God
thinks it is awesome to use EVERYBODY!
b.
Why
would you think that God only uses people that find it easy to do what
He asks?
c.
Don’t be
like Jonah, who was only willing to do God’s will as long as:
1)
It was
easy – preaching to his own people, in his own language was acceptable
to him
2)
As long
as it made sense – obviously Jonah would preach and warn his own people
3)
As long
as it was something he already wanted to do – which is what MOST OF US
think too!
7.
Will you
allow God in His grace sacrifice good people’s feelings (YOUR feelings)
and even our lives, to save bad people?
8.
Folks,
Grace won’t let us quit! One of the ways you know you are born again, is
God won’t let go of you!!!
9.
Don’t
you hate it that Grace won’t let us stay the way we are – is always
working on us and in us
a.
WE need
to change
b.
WE need
to get right OURSELVES
C.
Let
God’s Grace work in you -
no matter where you are at
1.
Wicked
and Unsaved – like the Ninevites, about to face the righteous wrath of
almighty God
2.
Religious and Unsaved – like those sailors
3.
Stubborn
and hard hearted – like Jonah
4.
Let God
have His way with you! |